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Multicenter Study
. 2021 Apr;8(4):918-928.
doi: 10.1002/acn3.51314. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Manifestations and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in neuroinflammatory diseases

Seth N Levin  1   2 , Shruthi Venkatesh  3 , Katie E Nelson  1 , Yi Li  3 , Ines Aguerre  1 , Wen Zhu  3 , Karman Masown  3 , Kathryn T Rimmer  1   2 , Claudiu I Diaconu  1   2 , Kaho B Onomichi  1 , Victoria M Leavitt  1 , Libby L Levine  1 , Rebecca Strauss-Farber  1 , Wendy S Vargas  1   2 , Brenda Banwell  4 , Amit Bar-Or  5 , Joseph R Berger  5 , Andrew D Goodman  6 , Erin E Longbrake  7 , Jiwon Oh  8 , Bianca Weinstock-Guttman  9 , Kiran T Thakur  2 , Keith R Edwards  10 , Claire S Riley  1   2 , Zongqi Xia  3 , Philip L De Jager  1   2 ; Multiple Sclerosis Resilience to COVID-19 (MSReCOV) Collaborative
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Manifestations and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in neuroinflammatory diseases

Seth N Levin et al. Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To report initial results of a planned multicenter year-long prospective study examining the risk and impact of COVID-19 among persons with neuroinflammatory disorders (NID), particularly multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: In April 2020, we deployed online questionnaires to individuals in their home environment to assess the prevalence and potential risk factors of suspected COVID-19 in persons with NID (PwNID) and change in their neurological care.

Results: Our cohort included 1115 participants (630 NID, 98% MS; 485 reference) as of 30 April 2020. 202 (18%) participants, residing in areas with high COVID-19 case prevalence, met the April 2020 CDC symptom criteria for suspected COVID-19, but only 4% of all participants received testing given testing shortages. Among all participants, those with suspected COVID-19 were younger, more racially diverse, and reported more depression and liver disease. PwNID had the same rate of suspected COVID-19 as the reference group. Early changes in disease management included telemedicine visits in 21% and treatment changes in 9% of PwNID. After adjusting for potential confounders, increasing neurological disability was associated with a greater likelihood of suspected COVID-19 (ORadj = 1.45, 1.17-1.84).

Interpretations: Our study of real-time, patient-reported experience during the COVID-19 pandemic complements physician-reported MS case registries which capture an excess of severe cases. Overall, PwNID seem to have a risk of suspected COVID-19 similar to the reference population.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Levin has received a fellowship training grant through Genentech and honoraria for advisory work with Biogen, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Vargas has received honoraria for advising or consulting work with Biogen, Alexion, EMD Serono, and grant support from Teva, which manufacture medications reported in the study. Dr. Banwell serves on the scientific advisory board for Biogen, Sanofi, Novartis, and has received honoraria for advising or consulting work with Novartis, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Edwards has received speaking and consulting fees from Biogen and Genzyme and research support from Biogen, Genentech, Novartis, and Sanofi, which manufacture medications reported in the study. Dr. Longbrake has received honoraria for advisory or consulting work with Biogen, Celegene/Bristol Myers Squibb, Genentech, Genzyme, EMD Serono, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Weinstock‐Guttman has participated in speaker's bureaus, received grant support, and/or served as a consultant for Biogen, EMD Serono, Novartis, Genentech, Celgene, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Bar‐Or serves on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, Celgene, EMD Serono, Novartis, Roche/Genentech and Sanofi‐Genzyme, and has sponsored research agreements with Biogen, Novartis and Roche/Genentech, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Berger serves on the scientific advisory board of Novartis, has received honoraria for advisory work with Biogen, Genentech/Roche, Celgene, Novartis, Genzyme, EMD Serono, and has received institutional grant support from Biogen and Genentech/Roche, which manufacture medications reported in the study. Dr. Goodman has received research support from Biogen, Genentech/Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, and Teva, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Oh has received grants and personal fees from Biogen, Roche, and Sanofi Genzyme, and personal fees from Celgene, Novartis, and EMD Serono, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Riley has received honoraria for advisory or consulting work with Biogen, Genentech/Roche, EMD Serono, Celgene, Teva, and Genzyme, which manufacture medications reported in this study. Dr. Xia serves on the scientific advisory board of Roche/Genentech, which manufactures medications reported in this study. Dr. De Jager serves on the scientific advisory board for Roche, Biogen, Celgene, has a sponsored research agreement with Biogen and Roche, and has fellowship funding through Genentech, which manufacture medications reported in this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The Multiple Sclerosis Resilience to COVID‐19 (MSReCOV) Study: scope of enrollment. The map illustrates the county‐level variation in case prevalence of COVID‐19 per 100,000 across the United States as of 1 May 2020. Persons with neuroinflammatory disease (NID) are shown as blue triangles and the reference participants are depicted as green triangles. The size of the triangle indicates the number of participants per zip code. (A) Entire United States. (B) New York and New Jersey. (C) Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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